coss
/koss/masculine
The Old English word for 'kiss' is coss.
The noun coss refers to a touch with the lips.
Meaning: a touch with the lips (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
coss is a masculine noun. Its genitive singular, meaning "of a kiss", is cosses, and its dative singular is cosse.
How do you pronounce it?
/koss/
Did you know?
- While modern English uses 'kiss' to mean various types of affection, the Old English coss was also used in religious contexts to describe a 'kiss of peace' between members of a congregation.
- The word coss descends from the Proto-Germanic root *kussaz, making it a close relative to the modern German 'Kuss' and Dutch 'kus'.
Examples in context
- mid ānum cosse of þēWith one kiss from youThis sentence shows how to use the word coss to describe a kiss from someone.
- Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church
Martinus ġelācnode mid ǣnlīpium cosse ǣnne hrēoflīnne mannan fram his micclan coðe, and fram atelīcum hīwe his unsmēðan līċes.Martinus cured a leprous man of his great sickness and from the horrid appearance of his unsmooth body with a single kiss.This sentence demonstrates the use of coss in a historical text describing a healing act.
Example conversation
Two siblings greet each other in a royal hall.
- ÆthelflædHēr is mīn coss for þē, brōðor.Here is my kiss for you, brother.
- ÆthelstanIċ þancie þē, Æthelflæd.I thank you, Æthelflæd.
- ÆthelflædIs þes coss sōð?Is this kiss sincere?
- ÆthelstanĠēa, hit is sōð.Yes, it is sincere.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kiss” translations and entries coss, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coss, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
